The Value of a Good Reputation
1 A good reputation and respect
are worth much more
than silver and gold.
2 The rich and the poor
are all created
by the Lord.
3 When you see trouble coming,
don't be stupid
and walk right into it—
be smart and hide.
4 Respect and serve the Lord!
Your reward will be wealth,
a long life, and honor.
5 Crooks walk down a road
full of thorny traps.
Stay away from there!
6 Teach your children
right from wrong,
and when they are grown
they will still do right.
7 The poor are ruled by the rich,
and those who borrow
are slaves of moneylenders.
8 Troublemakers get in trouble,
and their terrible anger
will get them nowhere.
9 The Lord blesses everyone
who freely gives food
to the poor.
10 Arguments and fights
will come to an end,
if you chase away those
who insult others.
11 The king is the friend of all
who are sincere
and speak with kindness.
12 The Lord watches over everyone
who shows good sense,
but he frustrates the plans
of deceitful liars.
13 Don't be so lazy that you say,
“If I go to work,
a lion will eat me!”
14 The words of a bad woman
are like a deep pit;
if you make the Lord angry,
you will fall right in.
15 All children are foolish,
but firm correction
will make them change.
16 Cheat the poor to make profit
or give gifts to the rich—
either way you lose.
Thirty Wise Sayings
17 Here are some sayings
of people with wisdom,
so listen carefully
as I teach.
18 You will be glad
that you know these sayings
and can recite them.
19 I am teaching them today,
so that you
may trust the Lord.
20 I have written thirty sayings
filled with sound advice.
21 You can trust them completely
to give you the right words
for those in charge of you.
–1–
22 Don't take advantage
of the poor
or cheat them in court.
23 The Lord is their defender,
and what you do to them,
he will do to you.
–2–
24 Don't make friends with anyone
who has a bad temper.
25 You might turn out like them
and get caught in a trap.
–3–
26 Don't guarantee to pay
someone else's debt.
27 If you don't have the money,
you might lose your bed.
–4–
28 Don't move a boundary marker
set up by your ancestors.
–5–
29 If you do your job well,
you will work for a ruler
and never be a slave.
1 A good name is to be chosen aboue great riches, and louing fauour is aboue siluer and aboue golde. 2 The rich and poore meete together: the Lord is the maker of them all. 3 A prudent man seeth the plague, and hideth himselfe: but the foolish goe on still, and are punished. 4 The rewarde of humilitie, and the feare of God is riches, and glory, and life. 5 Thornes and snares are in the way of the frowarde: but he that regardeth his soule, will depart farre from them. 6 Teache a childe in the trade of his way, and when he is olde, he shall not depart from it. 7 The rich ruleth the poore, and the borower is seruant to the man that lendeth. 8 He that soweth iniquitie, shall reape affliction, and the rodde of his anger shall faile. 9 He that hath a good eye, he shalbe blessed: for he giueth of his bread vnto the poore. 10 Cast out the scorner, and strife shall go out: so contention and reproche shall cease. 11 Hee that loueth purenesse of heart for the grace of his lippes, the King shalbe his friend. 12 The eyes of the Lord preserue knowledge: but hee ouerthroweth the wordes of the transgressour. 13 The slouthfull man saith, A lyon is without, I shall be slaine in the streete. 14 The mouth of strage women is as a deepe pit: he with whom the Lord is angry, shall fall therein. 15 Foolishnesse is bounde in the heart of a childe: but the rodde of correction shall driue it away from him. 16 Hee that oppresseth the poore to increase him selfe, and giueth vnto the riche, shall surely come to pouertie. 17 Incline thine eare, and heare the wordes of the wise, and apply thine heart vnto my knowledge. 18 For it shalbe pleasant, if thou keepe them in thy bellie, and if they be directed together in thy lippes. 19 That thy confidence may be in the Lord, I haue shewed thee this day: thou therefore take heede. 20 Haue not I written vnto thee three times in counsels and knowledge, 21 That I might shewe thee the assurance of the wordes of trueth to answere the wordes of trueth to them that sende to thee? 22 Robbe not the poore, because hee is poore, neither oppresse the afflicted in iudgement. 23 For the Lord will defende their cause, and spoyle the soule of those that spoyle them. 24 Make no friendship with an angrie man, neither goe with the furious man, 25 Least thou learne his wayes, and receiue destruction to thy soule. 26 Be not thou of them that touch the hand, nor among them that are suretie for debts. 27 If thou hast nothing to paye, why causest thou that he should take thy bed from vnder thee? 28 Thou shalt not remooue the ancient bounds which thy fathers haue made. 29 Thou seest that a diligent man in his businesse standeth before Kings, and standeth not before the base sort.